Collet crimp die?

[beekeeper]

Saw a post over on cast boolits about someone using a Lee collet crimp die.
Never heard of one.
Checked the Lee catalog and did not find one.
Is there such a thing or is the poster just using a factory crimp die and calling it a collet crimp die?


beekeeper

[Steve]

The Lee factory crimp die for rifles does operate with a collet to close on the neck and create the crimp. I use one each for 223 and 30-06. they work very well. I disasemble the dies and lubricate the surfaces of the die which rub together to close with Permatex brand anti-sieze. It last a long time, and doesn't creep around everything like oil does.

[62chevy]

The Lee factory crimp die for rifles does operate with a collet to close on the neck and create the crimp. I use one each for 223 and 30-06. they work very well. I disasemble the dies and lubricate the surfaces of the die which rub together to close with Permatex brand anti-sieze. It last a long time, and doesn't creep around everything like oil does.

Great idea need to do the same to my 30 cal crimp die, thanks.

[Ranch Dog]

Many have started to refer to the rifle FCD as the "Collet FCD", a much better description. Lee is actually doing the same now that they are offering this type of die for handgun cartridges, see: 45 COLT (COLLET STYLE) CUSTOM FACTORY CRIMP DIE

The Bottle Necked Cartridge FCD is also a collet style die. In it the collet is inverted and it is actuated against the closed top of the die. It is a smooth stroke of less resistance for short case length.

[Steve]

The Lee factory crimp die for rifles does operate with a collet to close on the neck and create the crimp. I use one each for 223 and 30-06. they work very well. I disasemble the dies and lubricate the surfaces of the die which rub together to close with Permatex brand anti-sieze. It last a long time, and doesn't creep around everything like oil does.

I have taken this a step further and got excelent longer lasting results by polishing those surfaces with fine valve grinding compound.

I am going to do another one soon. I will post with pictures the way I do it.

[larryw]

I have an older collet crimp Lee, it came thrown in with a set of used 303 British dies.
I have yet to use it because everyone I know that has brought me along in "Rifle"
reloading say's, I don't need to, the neck tension is enough, & if it's not my cases are bad,
or in need of annealing???? Then I hear that factory ammo is crimped & they should be crimped
to help with preventing moisture problems & that it does help accuracy. I sure do wish I had done the smart thing & started doing rifle the same time I started with handgun, but, stupid me????
Guess i'll try it & see the difference I just DON'T want to mess with pressure very much
in my old girl, A 1945 Jungle Carbine 303 British. Any advice????

[mikld]

I think you'll find that if you ask 20 rifle shooters/reloaders you'll get 30 opinions on whether to crimp or not to crimp. I do both, depending on the gun and load (rifles). For my 30-30 single shot I don't crimp. My .223 single shot, that uses military brass, I use a very light collet crimp. For my lever gun I use a stout crimp. My Garand (30-06) I most often use no/very light crimp and don't have any "set back" problems. Some say a crimp is not needed as good accuracy is achievable w/no crimp. Some say a "controlled crimp" will give fewer variations in velocity due to neck tension. Some say a good crimp, holding the bullet for that micro second longer getting more consistent pressures is best.

Try all crimps/no crimps on your ammo and see what works best for you in your gun...

[RBHarter]

Question about the collet dies, could the neck collet sizer be used to post size a rifle case? I have about 150 x39s that with the paper patched load have bloated since they were loaded and won't battery in an sks. The issue being that the particular rifle has a huge bore and neck dimension that makes simply resizing impractical due to a 318 groove and dies that size back under 308. I'd need to just bump the neck down from its current. 335 to.. 330.

[Steve]

Question about the collet dies, could the neck collet sizer be used to post size a rifle case? I have about 150 x39s that with the paper patched load have bloated since they were loaded and won't battery in an sks. The issue being that the particular rifle has a huge bore and neck dimension that makes simply resizing impractical due to a 318 groove and dies that size back under 308. I'd need to just bump the neck down from its current. 335 to.. 330.

I would check with Lee to see if they will make one the size needed. Or maybe neck it down slightly small then open it back up with a mandrel to the size you want.